Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1887-03-10
Why "Partisanship" is a Duty.

crimes committed in behalf of the Demo-
craticpsrty in Cincinnati. .therewere some
whose sensitive souls were offended by
this exhibition of bitter craftsmanship"
1t has become the habit with many to
assume that there must be unreasonable,
extreme and censurable partisanship in
any charge of crime against the mana
gers Of an opposing party, aud especial
ly in any imputatation that the leaders
of great political party are responsible
for crimes committed. But here comes
Ex-Governor Hoadly, of Ohio, and says:
Never again. never again allow an
honorable man to contemplate,as had to
with shame. my name accredited with
936 votes / never received in the Fourth
Ward. aud my friend Judge Foraker, in
Precinct A. Fourth Ward, accredited
with 46 votes only when he certainly re-
ceived nearly 200. Let it be known that
when dishonest methods are resorted
to, the promoters of the frauds are to be
where they belong.
Governor Foraker defeated Mr.. Hoad-
ly because the latter's Democratic friends
did not count for him enough votes that
he did not receive. He frankly syows
the shame and indignation with which he
realizes he was in one of the benefciaries
of the forgery which Republicans have
30 Indignantly censured. There is no
longer pretense that the crime was not
committed. Mr.. Hoadly mentions it to
warn bis party friends that such dOings
cannot be safely tolerated. But let us
next remember how far the leaders and
members of Mr.. Hoadly's party made
themselves responsible for the offence.
Every Democratic member of the Leg
islature, without exception, voted re-
peatedly to place aud hold in their seats
four persons whose sole claim was based
on the forgery which was based on the
forgery which Gov. Hoadly admits. For
them the 936 votes were counted that
they never received; against them the
SOV fOSCo "CAO Sdot VI WuAOn
46 were counted. 1t was after the cO@-
plete exposure of this crime, after every
intelligent citizen knew that there was
fraud amounting to about 1,l90 votes in
the returns from one ward, that every
Democratic member of the Legislature
voted to make the wrong complete and
effective. Will fair men pretend that
these votes do not make members par
Elephants in the offence?
Exactly the same conduct has been
witnessed in Indiana. where every Dem
oeratic member Of the Legislature is
now holding in his seat person placed
there by crimes for which the offenders
have been indicted. Exactly the same
CONDUCT is soon IN New Jersey, where
every Democratic member is now hold
| ing in his seat the person placcd- there
by violation of ballot box in Camden.
No one is ignorant that these crimes
were committed for the purpose of Sc
curing for the Democratic party seats in
the United States Senate, and every
member of that party in two State Leg
islatGres votes to this day to hold the
places thus seized by violation of law,
and to defeat the expressed will of the
people. Is it extreme partisanship to
censure such acte? Then the country
can never be governed by the people. or
governed by honest men. until extreme
psrtisanship becomes more common.
N. Y. Tribune.